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Class SocketFactory

java.lang.Object
javax.net.SocketFactory
Direct Known Subclasses:
SSLSocketFactory
public abstract class SocketFactory extends Object
This class creates sockets. It may be subclassed by other factories, which create particular subclasses of sockets and thus provide a general framework for the addition of public socket-level functionality.

Socket factories are a simple way to capture a variety of policies related to the sockets being constructed, producing such sockets in a way which does not require special configuration of the code which asks for the sockets:

  • Due to polymorphism of both factories and sockets, different kinds of sockets can be used by the same application code just by passing it different kinds of factories.
  • Factories can themselves be customized with parameters used in socket construction. So for example, factories could be customized to return sockets with different networking timeouts or security parameters already configured.
  • The sockets returned to the application can be subclasses of java.net.Socket, so that they can directly expose new APIs for features such as compression, security, record marking, statistics collection, or firewall tunneling.

Factory classes are specified by environment-specific configuration mechanisms. For example, the getDefault method could return a factory that was appropriate for a particular application, and a framework could use a factory customized to its own purposes.

Since:
1.4
See Also:

Constructor Summary

SocketFactory()
Modifier Constructor Description
protected
Creates a SocketFactory.

Method Summary

Modifier and Type Method Description
Socket createSocket()
Creates an unconnected socket.
abstract Socket createSocket(String host, int port)
Creates a socket and connects it to the specified remote host at the specified remote port.
abstract Socket createSocket(String host, int port, InetAddress localHost, int localPort)
Creates a socket and connects it to the specified remote host on the specified remote port.
abstract Socket createSocket(InetAddress host, int port)
Creates a socket and connects it to the specified port number at the specified address.
abstract Socket createSocket(InetAddress address, int port, InetAddress localAddress, int localPort)
Creates a socket and connect it to the specified remote address on the specified remote port.
static SocketFactory getDefault()
Returns a copy of the environment's default socket factory.

Methods declared in class Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Details

SocketFactory

protected SocketFactory()
Creates a SocketFactory.

Method Details

getDefault

public static SocketFactory getDefault()
Returns a copy of the environment's default socket factory.
Returns:
the default SocketFactory

createSocket

public Socket createSocket() throws IOException
Creates an unconnected socket.
Returns:
the unconnected socket
Throws:
IOException - if the socket cannot be created
See Also:

createSocket

public abstract Socket createSocket(String host, int port) throws IOException, UnknownHostException
Creates a socket and connects it to the specified remote host at the specified remote port. This socket is configured using the socket options established for this factory.
Parameters:
host - the server host name with which to connect, or null for the loopback address.
port - the server port
Returns:
the Socket
Throws:
IOException - if an I/O error occurs when creating the socket
UnknownHostException - if the host is not known
IllegalArgumentException - if the port parameter is outside the specified range of valid port values, which is between 0 and 65535, inclusive.
See Also:

createSocket

public abstract Socket createSocket(String host, int port, InetAddress localHost, int localPort) throws IOException, UnknownHostException
Creates a socket and connects it to the specified remote host on the specified remote port. The socket will also be bound to the local address and port supplied. This socket is configured using the socket options established for this factory.
Parameters:
host - the server host name with which to connect, or null for the loopback address.
port - the server port
localHost - the local address the socket is bound to
localPort - the local port the socket is bound to
Returns:
the Socket
Throws:
IOException - if an I/O error occurs when creating the socket
UnknownHostException - if the host is not known
IllegalArgumentException - if the port parameter or localPort parameter is outside the specified range of valid port values, which is between 0 and 65535, inclusive.
See Also:

createSocket

public abstract Socket createSocket(InetAddress host, int port) throws IOException
Creates a socket and connects it to the specified port number at the specified address. This socket is configured using the socket options established for this factory.
Parameters:
host - the server host
port - the server port
Returns:
the Socket
Throws:
IOException - if an I/O error occurs when creating the socket
IllegalArgumentException - if the port parameter is outside the specified range of valid port values, which is between 0 and 65535, inclusive.
NullPointerException - if host is null.
See Also:

createSocket

public abstract Socket createSocket(InetAddress address, int port, InetAddress localAddress, int localPort) throws IOException
Creates a socket and connect it to the specified remote address on the specified remote port. The socket will also be bound to the local address and port supplied. The socket is configured using the socket options established for this factory.
Parameters:
address - the server network address
port - the server port
localAddress - the client network address
localPort - the client port
Returns:
the Socket
Throws:
IOException - if an I/O error occurs when creating the socket
IllegalArgumentException - if the port parameter or localPort parameter is outside the specified range of valid port values, which is between 0 and 65535, inclusive.
NullPointerException - if address is null.
See Also:

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Documentation extracted from Debian's OpenJDK Development Kit package.
Licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2, with the Classpath Exception.
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https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/25/docs/api/java.base/javax/net/SocketFactory.html